This is a restaurant whose glory days are well in the past. Tonight's meal featured slow, inattentive service, hot and cold edamame that was heavily salted, an incomplete sushi order, and salmon roe that, had we eaten it, would have made us all sick. When we entered we were greeted by an empty host / hostess stand. A man in the kitchen walked by and ordered a waiter to seat us. Apparently the waiter never bothered to let the other waiters know that he had seated us so we waited ten full minutes before a waiter started to clear the table behind us. He acknowledged us with hands full of dirty plates from the table behind us. Adding to the charm and atmosphere he put the dirty plates of full of half-eaten food on the table next to us as he took our complete order. Classy. We received our drinks in a reasonable amount of time as well as our large order of edamame. The first thing we noticed was that it was heavily salted; we then noticed that the deeper we got into the dish, the colder the beans were. Obviously not a very good sign. Next, the bus boy helpfully refilled my iced tea with water even after I tried to tell him that I was drinking tea and not water. He graciously and apologetically brought me a refill of iced tea. When our sushi order came out the waiter set it on the table and marched off. He came back to refill another iced tea and I told him that we were missing part of our order. He said that he would go check. He came back a few minutes later with our order sheet and said that all that we were missing were two sea scallops -- I had to correct him and show him that he was reading the wrong line and that we had ordered two orders of salmon roe. He went off to get the order corrected and we dug into the sushi we were presented. The spicy tuna roll was an ordinary tuna roll that featured a dollop of rather ordinary siracha mayo on top. The tuna itself was not seasoned nor was it fresh. We didn't finish it. The other rolls we ordered, with the exception of a Dragon Roll, failed to live up to expectations. They were bland rolls featuring seafood of questionable quality and freshness. When the salmon roe was delivered to our table, my daughter caught a whiff of it and asked me to taste it. I picked up a single salmon egg and smelled it -- I was left with a slime trail on my finger that reeked of rotting fish. I called the waiter over and told him that the salmon roe was not fresh, that they shouldn't be serving it, and that if they weren't careful, they were going to make someone very sick. This is the second, and last, bad meal I have had at Sado. The entrees were never much to write home about but the sushi was competent. Now the standards have slipped so far that you are probably better off eating the fabled "gas-station sushi." I will not be back. It is a waste of time and money. read more

Beyond fast food, the Eastern Shore doesn't have a plethora of options for ANY type of cuisine, so being able to get sushi at all is a positive in itself. Having said that, Sado ain't great. The pop-modern decor has a cool, upscale feel, and the fish and rolls are cut fresh to order at the bar right there in the dining room, with decent quality, if not spectacular. But where they truly and consistently fall short is with their brutally bad service. First, there's the waiter who's always wearing a Van Halen t-shirt like he's working in an Ocean City sub shop. Then there was the time when the server and host got into an argument as we walked in and totally ignored us, each storming off in different directions. Or the time we were seated and served four waters in filthy glasses. This past Saturday, my wife and I had a date night, and decided to give Sado another try, only to find more of the same nonsense. They brought the wrong wine, neglecting to present it, so we didn't realize it wasn't right until it was open and poured.Oh well; we lived with it. It was maybe 8pm, and the place only had a few tables. While we were in the middle of a quiet, intimate evening, members of the kitchen staff came out into the dining room, starting a LOUD, boisterous conversation with members of the wait staff, laughing loudly, and shoving and high-fiving each other! We were sitting maybe 20-25 feet away from the frat party, feeling like we shoulda been playing beer pong with Coors Light drafts in our hands instead of chopsticks. Totally blew the mood right outta the water. And while the sign on the door said they were open until 11pm on Fri and Sat nights, they were putting chairs on the tables all around us before 9pm, and delivering our check before we'd even finished dinner, with no offer of dessert or coffee. I'd wager that the owner is a chef, because Sado has no friggin clue about how to manage the front of the house, and no sense whatsoever of etiquette or proper dining service. Bottom line: there are MUCH better choices on Kent Island for a quiet date night dinner, ie Rustico, or Bridges. And if it's sushi you're craving, Ichiban is just as good, and less expensive. Or better yet, cross the bridge and hit Joss in downtown Annapolis for the real deal. As for Cafe Sado, we're done with them, for good this time. You couldn't drag us back in there. read more

One chance was enough for me to never return. I went here with a large group for dinner & the waiters/waitresses were NOT helpful in accommodating us even though we reserved ahead of time to ensure everything would work out. When we got there, the table(s) weren't set up for us & we (the group) had to figure it out on our own & ended up having to split up into 3 smaller groups, it was outrageous! After that maddening event, we were given menus & the waiter for my table of 3 came back in 2 minutes of handing us our menus asking us what we wanted. I asked for more time & I regret it when 15 minutes later he still wasn't back. When we finally ordered after 20 minutes of our waiter disappearing, it took another 30 minutes of our rolls to be served. I also asked the waiter if the Thai iced coffee was good, he said that he would give me one free (on the house) to try. When I got the drink it was filled to the brim & it came with simple syrup to add on. My question is how am I suppose to add the syrup when it's filled to the brim? It wasn't good anyways, after a sip to get it below the brim & another sip with the syrup, I pushed it aside. The Thai iced coffee didn't taste fresh, there wasn't a strong or even remote coffee taste to it. When my rolls came, it was not a pretty sight. The rice wasn't sticky & the ratio of rice to the fish was terrible. If you screw up on the rice, which is essential to good sushi then the whole roll is a disgrace. When I went to the restroom, I saw that Hispanic workers were making the rolls instead of an actual sushi chef. This is not to be snobby, but all respectable sushi establishments have a chef who is trained in the preparation/creation of sushi to ensure it is safe for consumption. The fish did not taste fresh at all. When we finally got our check, I noticed that the waiter charged me for the Thai iced coffee even though my friends all heard him say it was free! This establishment is the only sushi place arounding so I reckon most people in the surround area have never tried actual sushi worth writing home about. Either way, this was a terrible experience. read more

Filled up quick in the main dining room. Service was good and sushi came out in a timely manner. The plating and over all rolling ability was not consistent throughout our big tray. I specialize in sushi tasting, preparation, and presentation. Great service and setting, but sushi was below my standards. read more

We're novice sushi diners but waiter helped us to select. Sushi selected was very good and we will return and do some more exploring into the world of sushi. Reluctant to give a five as this was our first experience. Also, there was a hostess in training who looked really bored and kinda looked like no one was home. Not sure she will make grade. read more

The BEST sushi on the Eastern Shore! Our family has been eating here for the last 6 years and we LOVE Cafe Sado! Fiesta Roll & Volcano rolls are delish!Great Thai dishes as well! Don't leave without getting the Fried Ice Cream! Our favorite restaurant on Kent Island! read more

Cafe Sado - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chester, Maryland

great food for the price, my only concern was that I couldn't be accommodated with brown rice for use with my sushi because I'm eating more health conscious. read more

While some of the items we ordered were very tasty (crispy duck and salmon were outstanding), I am extremely disappointed in the way our evening went. Strike one: the server didn't take my daughter's food order and did not come back to check on us until right before our food arrived, which led to my daughter's meal being served considerably after everyone else had their plates. (This was further extended by the first two dishes she ordered being out and the server not realizing this fact) Strike two: the Americano sushi came with very generous dollops of sriracha sauce on each piece, however this is not advised on the menu. When I pointed this out to our server and asked to send it back because no one in our family likes sriracha and had I known we wouldn't have ordered it, he told me to just scrape it off. Strike three: the Harmony Roll does advise it has tobiko, so knowing we do not enjoy it I specifically asked for none. I was not advised it was mixed into the lobster salad on top of the roll and it was not possible to get said roll without it. Instead we were once again stuck with a roll that had we been correctly advised we would not have ordered. Strike four: automatic gratuity added to our party, though this is not listed on the dinner menu (I was told that it is on the lunch menu, but considering I have never seen the lunch menu that does me no good). I am sorry, forgetting to take an order and telling me to scrape a sauce we find offense off rather than fixing it does not warrant an above average tip. It was extremely poor customer service. We will not be back. read more

Incredible sushi, even better prices! The quality and price of the sushi is on par with sushi I've had in Japan. Cafe Sado is the best sushi place I've been to in Maryland, and the top 3 I've been to in the US. The 2 for 1 sushi is NOT to be missed! I'll be coming here every week from now on read more

LOVE THIS PLACE!! Best sushi on Kent Island. Just be sure to hold the jalapenos if you don't care for spicy food.

This is still my favorite place for sushi. It so so yummy!! The service is always great and prices are unbeatable.

Literally a stones through away from my wonderful girlfriends house....it's a favorite of mine. Happy Hour Buy one Get One Free Sushi. HELLO? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! It's awesome. There are so many "unique" and delicious sushi rolls, I'll never get tired of the place. We have not had any entrees there, but hear that they are as good as the sushi. Maybe next time I'll order from the big menu. It's the best sushi spot on the shore, and beats driving over (and back) the Bay Bridge to go to Annapolis and sit in crowded corners of overpriced places. Cafe Sado is even worth crossing the bridge from the western shore to visit. Tucked away in a little marina, it is definately a "gem" of the shore. read more

My friend raved about this place and booked us a table in advance for my visit. We realized we were going to be 15 minutes late so I called to let them know. The girl who answered seemed very unenthused and almost angry. When we arrived we waited about 3 minutes to be greeted by who I assumed to be the same dry and unenthusiastic girl. She never smiled and didn't seem happy to be there. Maybe the service industry isn't for her. I was a bit turned off by the high schoolers congregating in the waiting area and sitting on each others laps...I suppose you can't control your customers though. We were seated (although our table wasn't even ready even though we arrived late) and met quickly by our waiter. Our server was pleasant enough and helped us quickly and efficiently. Part of our order was forgotten about, but everything tasted pretty good once we had it. Could have gone for a little bit more ginger with my sushi roll, especially considering we were sharing one plate with two rolls. The fried ice cream was delicious. I'd consider returning but hope they have a more mature staff and atmosphere next time. read more

Best place for vegetarian food on Kent Island. I recommend the spring rolls, the garden roll and the aubergine roll. The service is friendly and the restaurant is clean. read more

Worth the drive!! Great sushi :) Great service! Great views! Gave it 4 stars just because we came around their break period so we felt a little rushed towards the end. But I loved the atmosphere and food and the great sushi deal. Winner. read more

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I have gotten sushi here for years, my go to spot unless I want to cross the bridge to the western shore. One roll with tempura shrimp and a crunch topping this evening was served where one or both of those ingredients was served where the ingredient was fried in rancid oil. Your nose could smell it but I tried three pieces, could stomach no more. When asked if I wanted to box the uneaten portion I explained that I did not because it was made with one or more rancid ingredients. I was offered no apology or credit. I think I will spend more time to travel to the western shore where the ingredients are fresh and my satisfaction is valued. read more

Formerly the Brooks Tavern, Cafe Sado is a sort of pan-Asian place that now occupies the space of the former Brooks Tavern restaurant. Menu is fairly standard but seems to have more of a Japanese feel, as they offer sushi and sashimi primarily. Other items that make the fold are ramen, bento boxes, and some curries that fit in the mix. A straight forward bento box is presented well. Nice mix of salad, side miso, and well prepared chicken on a bed of rice. The sushi is also done simply, stick with the common items and they will be alright. The rice isn't hard or gummy, and the rolls don't fall apart either. I was looking for more crab based items, and this is something that could really be accentuated on the menu but really isn't. However it is still ok. Ramen though is a bit of a letdown, but not terrible. The noodles are basic store bought package, and overcooked, but the broth is a simple chicken, and the experience comes off like eating chicken noodle soup more than anything. It's still edible, but also tiny, but for ten dollars doesn't totally break the bank, but doesn't give your moneys worth either. Visited at a very quiet time. so there was no problem with service, If anything the staff was incredibly eager and very courteous with their service. It's not amazing or even great food, but if I was in the area and needed a sushi fix this would probably fit the bill nicely. read more

Sado has pretty good sushi. I'm giving it 3 stars, because it's worth a second glance, but it's not always consistent The fish is usually fresh and the rolls are always good, but it's not the best sushi around. The problem is that the fish is just average quality. Not a ton of flavor of any sort and just okay texture. At lunch all of their rolls are buy 1, get the second one free, which is unbeatable. 25$ with tip for two people at lunch is better than the pre-made sushi at Whole Foods. The rice is not great but its fairly fresh, and much better than the rice at Tsunami in Annapolis. Their Volcano Roll is the best I have ever tried. It's warm but not dry inside, nice and crispy and not greasy outside. Plus they don't drown it in sauce and fill it with too many things. Not a big fan of the tomato salsa on the spicy scallop roll. It's actually good salsa, just a strange combo and it overwhelms the scallops. I really enjoyed their Lemongrass Soup, but I think for the price it could use more ingredients. I go for lunch and sushi so I can't speak to service when they are busy, but I've had no trouble. I also like the decor, it's modern yet airy. The patio is probably great when the weather is cool enough. If you are on the shore, check it out. read more

Decent sushi spot tucked away near the water. They have buy 1 get 1 free sushi rolls all day. I wouldn't say it's the best sushi I've had but it wasn't bad either. They have outdoor seating available and the inside has a modern feel to it. The server was very polite and did a good job overall. Overall it's a cheap and decent sushi spot. I would come back again if I was ever in the area. read more

Reviews haven't been that great lately, but wanted to return back to Cafe Sado for their yummy sushi rolls. We made reservations for two but clearly didn't need them tonight which a Saturday. Place was pretty empt at 7:30. Our waitress, Caroline, was awesome! She was very friendly, patient while we took awhile to decide what we wanted and was able to explain everything we asked about certain items on the menu. We decided on 4 different special rolls, which were all delicious! We also ordered some tuna sushimi. We thought that was the piece of tuna on top of the rice but we got mixed up. Caroline made sure to go and request what we actually wanted without hesitation. Two of the sushi rolls were buy one get one free which was such a good deal! We wanted to order one of the Tai meals but were way too full from eating all of the sushi rolls. Overall we were very impressed with the food and the service and will be back soon! read more

Great sushi! Great service, found this place by accident & go back often. Feel like I'm walking into a spa... such a pleasant atmosphere. This place is a hidden gem on the Eastern shore. read more

We haven't been to Sado since Shogun opened on the island. The sashimi wasn't as good and that's what we normally get, so we stopped going there. We used to love this place, their sashimi had little bits of other stuff to accompany it, like mango chunks, or scallions, pesto...very nice. That stopped years ago and now it's sad looking skinny sashimi. However, we wanted to get rolls this time and decided to try it again since their roll menu is larger than Shogun's. Honestly, we could barely eat it. The spicy tuna was salty, WTF? Other than salty it had no taste, not spicy, just mushy. Since spicy tuna is one of my favorites, we had it in or on every roll. We actually left some in the board, it was that bad. Knowing I'd be hungry without eating the amount of sushi we ordered, I got an order of chicken satay. Knowing this place pretty well, their satay has shrunk in size pretty significantly. The peanut sauce was solid like real peanut butter and it was just not good. It used to be good! Aside from the miso soup, the whole meal was a disappointment. Did they change owners? No idea. I didn't see anyone I recognized, the wait staff was different, so I'm just not sure. What I am sure of is that I'll never go back. It was awful, and when sushi is awful, it's actually a little scary. Sticking with Shogun. I don't recommend Sado to anyone if you want sushi or sashimi. I don't get the Thai stuff and they were out of my old favorite Caesar salad. Go to Shogun, their spicy tuna is off the charts good. read more

Surpisingly good. Yelp lead us here as we were headed back from the ocean. Excellent Thai menu. Plenty of sushi offerings. Nice decor and view. Service was a bit confused and slow at times. We indulged in the Thai menu which was quite good. The sushi looked popular and tasty, but I'll have to try that next time. Green tea creme brûlée was the perfect finish to a nice meal. This restaraunt was a pleasant surprise and I look forward to visitting again. Casual dining with above average decor, view, and food. read more

So, they have this "buy one sushi roll, get one of equal or lesser value for free" deal. We buy 2- $12 rolls and 2- $5 rolls. Get this, they give us the 2-$5 rolls for free! Somebody tell me how that's not FRAUD! Not very inventive sushi either: Dragon Roll=California Roll with eel on top Rainbow roll=California roll will other fish on top. Small rolls too, especially for $12. If you do go, buy 2-$12 rolls and pay. Then buy 2-$5 rolls and pay. Maybe it will work!! Good luck and Happy Eating!! read more

First time at Cafe Sado in Chestertown, and I am totally underwhelmed and disappointed. I ordered takeout...sushi was in unmarked containers and smashed from being poorly packaged. We're not sushi connoisseurs, so no one really knew what was what. Pad Thai was the worst I've ever eaten. Basically, I spent $90 on food that is being tossed. read more

Did not order a single thing that was not delicious; meat cooked perfectly, sushi extremely fresh. Great location just off the water and the interior design is unlike any I've seen in a restaurant. Fantastic. read more

Cafe Sado - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chester, Maryland

Greatest sushi place on the Eastern Shore! My family and I drive a good 45 minutes just to get a bite of this sushi, it's that good. The sushi is really fresh and nicely sized. The 'buy one get one free' offer is also great, saves us lots every time. read more

Cafe Sado - (From top to bottom) Roasted eggplant, cucumber avocado, salmons avocado, and spicy shrimp tempura - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chester, Maryland

Place has gone way down hill. Used to be the "it" place for sushi. Not sure if any of the food is fresh. Not a place I would recommend. Hopefully they can get their act together, but for now it is a definite skip! read more

Excellent place, no doubt about it. If you want high end sushi, this is the place to go! Great sushi on Kent Island? Yes, really! The desserts are awesome too, ask for Riley's ice cream, home made awesome, off the hook! Ask her for a trademark joke too, hilarious young lady. read more

I've eaten here more than a few times since it opened, and it was always at least ok - nothing to write home about. In the past, we've had to get reservations for some nights, but there is no need for reservations anymore. The place is empty. It has gradually gotten worse throughout the years. We went here tonight and the rice was mushy, and the rolling of the maki was mediocre at best. The nigiri was ok, but the fish was meh - some of it was "fishy." We ordered an appetizer and one of the waitresses came with something else. Another waitress said, "That goes to the table over there" and she rightfully takes it over there. Our order comes up and guess what? The same waitress takes our appetizer over to the table that she JUST delivered the other appetizer to! They should have kept it because we ordered fried calamari, which tasted like stale oil. The staff was dressed unprofessionally. We will never go here again. read more

This place has sadly gone down hill. The sushi menu has few choices, and the pad Thai tasted like it was made with ketchup. A few years ago we could come here and get a reasonably good, but I doubt we'll be back again. read more

Very disappointed in the size and quality. We used to go to Sado regularly before Covid, and have ordered takeout a few times since. This time, the pork belly buns were bland and undercooked, and the basil chicken entree was the smallest I've seen! Sad to say we will not be back to the place we once loved. read more

A couple of days ago I met friends for lunch who chose this restaurant. I didn't order sushi, I ordered an Asian chicken salad. I know, it's a sushi place but I wanted a salad. It was not good. The chicken was cut up, boiled, and unseasoned. The romaine lettuce was wilting from all of the sugary dressing. My drink was vodka with club soda and lime, it was watered downed, so much that it actually tasted like tap water. Just terrible. Very disappointed because I used to eat here a lot several years ago. read more

This was my favorite place to go..... Until a cockroach crawled out of my sushi roll onto my table.. then when the waiter came over and we showed him, he proceed to smack the bug onto our table and then wipe it onto the floor. He apologized and told us we didn't have to pay.. but we will not be back. read more

The sushi is really good. Their fish was fresh and portions are pretty big too. My husband also added an order of shrimp pad thai which he said was very good. The Thai tea was just ok - they bring you cream and sugar and you have to mix it yourself. Not a problem but have never had to do that anywhere else and wasnt sure I was putting correct amounts in? Anyway, dinner was great. Had the volcano roll, a salmon avocado roll and yellowtail and salmon nigiri. Husband ordered shrimp and eel sashimi which I didn't eat but he said was good. Only spent $60 I thought that was very reasonable. Sushi is buy one get one free which is a great deal but beware that apparently doesnt apply to sashimi. Only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is the service can be so/so. read more

Cafe Sado - volcano roll, salmon avocado roll, eel, shrimp, yellowtail & salmon nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - Chester, Maryland

We used to love this restaurant! To begin with, the chairs have seen better days and many of the bulbs had been blown and needed to be replaced. The sushi bar that we used to sit at and watch the sushi chef do their magic, was now used to store napkins, plates and random things. The Asian Paella tasted like it was reheated, the shrimp with Yellowtail cheeks was burnt, and the pork belly in hot buns was old and raw. Upset that it wasn't like what it used to be... read more

My FAVORITE sushi place. I live in the Baltimore area but I've been coming to Café Sado on Kent Island for years now because it's just that good! Sometimes the service can be a little slow, but I've never minded because it allows time to enjoy the view of the marina. It's great during the summer and warmer days when you can sit outside! The buy one get one is great, I've never been to any sushi place that does this deal all day, every day. You just can't beat it! For those complaining that when you buy two higher priced ones and think those should be the free ones instead of the two cheaper ones - where on Earth have you ever been somewhere that does that? Just be thankful that this place offers such a great deal on amazing sushi. read more

For sushi there is no other option in the area, as far as I'm concerned. We have tried two other places, which received fairly good reviews and we won't be going back to either of them. We tried a place not far from Sado. We were the only people in the restaurant. I guess that should have been a red flag. Part of our order was wrong. Being the only people there you would think they would get it right. And, it was more expensive than Sado. The other place we tried is in Easton. It was okay, but the sushi was not as good as Sado. I agree that the service isn't always that great at Sado, as far as waiters returning to the table. We have had to flag ours down on occasions. But, as far as sushi goes, it's Cafe Sado all the way. We're done trying other places. read more

Service and food quality has been going down hill lately. I have been going to sado for many years and the experience of restaurant has depleting read more

i love this place so much. they are all so nice! great service. the sushi is AMAZING!!! very good price with very good deals. 100% recommend going! read more